Rachel’s Musings

Obama’s religious ties: Rick Warren

Obama has picked Rick Warren as the pastor to give the invocation (whatever that is) at the inauguration. Aside from wondering why a pastor has to be at the inauguration in the first place – after all there’s supposed to be a separation of religion and state in this country – this particular pastor pick is, well, it’s rather offensive. And not just to atheists (invocation is after all invoking god). It is basically offensive to most supporters of Obama: Rick Warren is, according to a quote in the HuffingtonPost article:

“[...] is also very established in the religious right and his position on social issues like gay rights, stem cell research and women’s rights are all out of the mainstream and are very much opposed to the progressive agenda that Obama ran on. I think that he is very much the wrong person to put on the stage with the president that day.”

A fellow Rev. said that but HP confirmed:

Warren’s domestic and social agendas are at odds with Obama’s. And for the gay and lesbian community in particular, the choice is a bitter pill to swallow.

It seems like Obama doesn’t care who he is offending as long as he can peddle to the religious wrong. As HP puts it: “Mainly, however, the argument is that the Warren choice falls under the president-elect’s stated objective of building a big tent government.” You can’t heal a divide by reaching out only to one side and slap the other in the face.

At change.org, several ideas already popped up trying to stop the selection of Rick Warren (see below for other ways to make your opinion heard). Maybe if there’s enough outrage the True Majority can actually put the religious wrong were it belongs: on the sidelines.

Petitions:

Petition from the Action Center
Let the transition team know what you think (hat tip to Jender for this link!)
Women Count also started a petition to urge Obama to pick someone else.
HRC calls on Obama to show the LGBT community through policy that he doesn’t support Warren’s rhetoric
Facebook group set up by People for the American Way
Facebook post from No on Prop 8 group

Activism Ideas:

I love Paul Rosenberg’s idea of 2 Million (or more!) pink triangles!

Other people’s comments/thoughts/analyses:

Gay activist Mike Rogers suggests that Warren show his inclusiveness and meet with leaders of the LGBT movement. We’ll either find out Warren’s true colors or see some rainbow bridges!
PZ Myers points out that Obama is acting very much like the old boss
A commentary by Leah McElrath Renna that very well captures why Warren is so objectionable.
Newsweek posted a debate between two gay writers – one pro-Warren selection; one adamantly against it.
Panda’s Thumb points out that Warren is a creationist and why that’s not such a good sign… (many of the comments are very thoughtful, too; I especially like this one and this one)
I’ve been told that this is a pragmatic choice. Michael Bérubé eloquently shows why it’s not.
Michelle Goldberg wrote an article on the divisiveness of Obama’s choice. It comes complete with sources for Warren’s outrageous claims (and a like to her column in The Guardian.
Feminist Philosophers are weighing in with more links and suggestions for action
The Secular Coalition for America’s position on the Warren selection
People for the American Way press release
AmericaBlog comment
Right Wing Watch article on the Warren selection and
Right Wing Watch’s article on the response of the Religious Wrong on this pick; rather telling, imo
And if you’re getting tired of reading, you can listen to Rachel Maddow’s thoughts on this debacle
Obama’s response & inauguration team’s talking points
And you can read the non-inclusiveness of Rick Warren and his church here and here (Hat tip to Debra Haffner and to Leah McElrath Renna who found Q49). I’ve replaced the broken link to Q49 is replaced with one to beliefnet. Q52 remains missing. Here’s a different FAQ and here’s the stance on homosexuality and abortion.